City Of Colorado Springs Municipal to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field COS → ASE
104 nautical miles (120 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 285°, about 277° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 9:37 pm MDT (03:37 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now COS is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots; ASE is VFR, wind calm. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 23 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- SIGMET 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm MDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 9 to 28 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W VALID UNTIL 0355Z CO NM FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the last 66 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 66 nm of the route.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from COS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 3 forecast points nearest it (PUB, DEN, GJT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +15 kt | 13 °C | 105 kt | 59 min | 9:37 pm MDT (03:37 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 31 kt | +21 kt | 9 °C | 99 kt | 1 h 03 min | 9:41 pm MDT (03:41 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 39 kt | +27 kt | 5 °C | 93 kt | 1 h 07 min | 9:45 pm MDT (03:45 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 41 kt | +25 kt | 0 °C | 95 kt | 1 h 06 min | 9:44 pm MDT (03:44 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 44 kt | +22 kt | -4 °C | 98 kt | 1 h 04 min | 9:42 pm MDT (03:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 47 kt | +20 kt | -8 °C | 100 kt | 1 h 02 min | 9:40 pm MDT (03:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 50 kt | +25 kt | -21 °C | 95 kt | 1 h 06 min | 9:44 pm MDT (03:44 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 61 kt | +40 kt | -29 °C | 80 kt | 1 h 18 min | 9:56 pm MDT (03:56 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 62 kt | +44 kt | -34 °C | 76 kt | 1 h 22 min | 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 53 kt | +37 kt | -45 °C | 83 kt | 1 h 15 min | 9:53 pm MDT (03:53 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUB | used from 0 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| DEN | used from 47 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| GJT | used from 95 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 17,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 17,000 ft | 6,187 ft | 7:54 pm MDT (01:54 UTC) |
| LXV Leadville, CO | 76 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 9,933 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 7,837 ft | 7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,933 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ASE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:37 pm MDT (03:37 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet VFR
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ASE
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 24, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind variable at 20 knots, gusting to 35, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 13,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
The forecast for COS, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- At times between Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 25 knots, gusting to 35, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 19 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 0 nm from the route, 38 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at COS 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 UTC), at ASE 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ASE is after sunset there (6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: City Of Colorado Springs Municipal, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.